A nursery owner who says she went to a "dark place" over a bad Ofsted report is backing calls for action following the tragic death of a headteacher. Linda Jeho, 46, says she was left emotionally distressed after inspectors told her she would be rated as 'inadequate' following a 2019 visit.
She pulled through but has not been the same since, she says - and now wants real change to take place after the death of Ruth Perry. Ms Perry took her own life while waiting for a critical Ofsted report of her primary school in Reading.
Her family said in a statement, reported by the BBC, that her death "was a direct result of the pressure put on her by the [Ofsted] process". There have been calls to halt inspections since Ms Perry's death.
Linda, a mum-of-three, has backed the idea and says Ms Perry "must not have died in vain". Linda registered Little Limes Day Nursery in Hersham, Surrey with Ofsted in 2017.
Inspectors then turned up unannounced two years later, she says - and told her she would be rated as 'inadequate'. Linda said: "I went to a dark place over the bad report and feel like I can relate to Ruth Perry's last few days leading up to her death.
"Waiting for our report was horrendous - like sitting with a ticking bomb. It was the most difficult time of my life.
"I just feel very very fortunate that somehow I came through. [But] I have not been the same since.
"I know I'm not alone in these feelings. Ruth must not have died in vain - we need to speak out for her."
Linda says she wanted to raise her fears before but was afraid of repercussions at her next inspection.
But Ms Perry's death has now given her the drive to put her head above the parapet.
Linda, who had been a childminder for six years previously, says she took out a loan of £150,000 to open Little Limes Day Nursery.
She claims the majority of customers were happy, but the inspectors had been sent round after a complaint.
She said: "I felt numb when they left. We just weren't ready.
"They said the report was going to be bad. It was during the Christmas holidays and I just went into my office and had a total breakdown.
"The Christmas holiday was horrendous knowing the report would be published soon but I couldn't tell the parents about it.
"I was crying and crying. I put everything I had into my business and I knew I was doing well and had happy customers.
"They just turned up and pulled me apart and said, 'You're inadequate'.
"Of course there needs to be an inspection - but it needs to be done differently."
The nursery was rated as 'requires improvement' following its latest inspection, in June 2022.
Linda said: "I've lost staff and customers because of this - and I work harder than ever because of the fear of bad reports."
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Ofsted has a crucial role to play in upholding education standards and making sure children are safe in school.
“They provide independent, up to date evaluations on the quality of education, safeguarding, and leadership which parents greatly rely on to give them confidence in choosing the right school for their child.”
